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Hello, October. It’s officially the fourth quarter of 2019 – and with the year flying by so fast, there are plenty of events going on around Columbia to help keep us living in the moment this month. October brings the spooky sounds + sights of Halloween, the 150th state fair + so many other Fall staples. Check out our October PlanAhead below.
Famously Hot S.C. Pride Festival | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Main St. | Free | S.C. Pride kicks off with a night parade Friday night, followed by a full day of events Saturday. Don’t miss out on live performances, family-friendly fun + more.
150th South Carolina State Fair | Wednesday Oct. 9- Sunday, Oct. 20 | 12-10 p.m. | S.C. State Fairgrounds | $7+ | It’s time for ferris wheel rides, candy apples + deep-fried everything. The State Fair is celebrating its 150th year, so celebrate by winning stuffed animals + enjoying the live music and fun.
Boo at the Zoo | Friday Oct. 18- Wednesday Oct. 30 | 6-9 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | $13 for general admission, $11 for members | Family fun at the zoo including trick-or-treating, a foam zone, dance party + more. Limited number of tickets, so purchase in advance.
Gala with a Bite: Hollywood Dracula | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 7-11 p.m. | 701 Whaley St. | $100 per ticket or $180 for two | October is spooky season, and that means Dracula is back. The Columbia Ballet is putting on a haunting gala, including live entertainment, heavy hors-d’oeuvres and silent/live auction. Costumes are encouraged, so buy your vampire teeth + black capes now.
Tuesday, October 1 - Sunday, October 6
Tuesday, October 1
ForKids
- Scarecrows in the Garden Exhibit | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Robert Mills Gardens, 1616 Blanding St. | Free | Scarecrows made by families + businesses around Columbia will be on view at the Robert Mills House and Gardens throughout the month of October.
Dish
- Epworth Food Truck Rodeo | 5-8 p.m. | 2900 Millwood Ave. | Free, donations appreciated | This event benefits the Epworth Children’s Home + features some of the best food trucks in Columbia.
TryThis
- Pumpkin Planetarium Lighting | 7:30 p.m. | S.C. State Museum | Free
Wednesday, October 2
Workshop
- Costume Design on a Budget | 6-8 p.m. | Indie Grits Labs, 1013 Duke Ave. | $125 or $95 for Nick members
Thursday, October 3
Show
- Brian Justin Crum | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St. | $25-50
- Girl Interrupted | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free
Film
- Night of the Living Dead | 7:30-9:30 P.M. | The Nickelodeon Theatre | Free | The Nick is hosting a free outdoor movie, so bring a chair + enjoy the free popcorn.
Friday, October 4
Drink
- The 2019 Great American Whiskey Fair | 5-9 p.m. | 701 Whaley | $75+ | Join the largest American whiskey celebration in the Southeast while you chat with distillery owners + choose from over 500 whiskeys, bourbons and ryes to sample.
Festival
- Lourie Center Fall Festival | 9 a.m-1 p.m. | The Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle | Free
- Famously Hot S.C. Pride Parade | 7-8:30 p.m. | Main St. | Free
Show
- Rhythm on the River Fall Concert Series | 6-9 p.m. | West Columbia Riverwalk, 121 Alexander Rd. | Free
Saturday, October 5
Festival
- Sofrito & Soul Family Festival | 11 a.m. | Decker Plaza, 2500 Decker Blvd. | Free | This family-friendly festival brings people in from all over the state with performers, vendors + activities.
- Famously Hot SC Pride Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Main St. | Free
Drink
- Haw River Wine Man at Rosewood | 4:00-6:00pm | $10 in store or $12 day of | Following the tasting attendees will receive 20% off a Power Bowl + their new favorite bottle of wine.
- Oktoberfest 2019 | 12-10 p.m. | Columbia Craft Brewing, 520 Greene St. | Free to attend | Festbier will be flowing, the polka band will be rocking, and The Wurst Wagen will be slinging awesome eats.
- Wizard Pub Crawl | 5 p.m.- 12 a.m. | Liberty Tap Room, 828 Gervais St. | $20-38
- Science on Tap | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Hunter-Gatherer Hangar, 1402 Jim Hamilton Blvd. | Free to attend
Dish
- Witch, Please! A Halloween Launch Party | 8 p.m-2 a.m. | Bone-In Barbeque, 2180 Boyce St. | Free to attend
Civic
- S.C. for Ed State Caucus | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | USC School of Education, 820 Main St. | $15
TryThis
- Columbia Garden Plant Exchange | 10 a.m. | Talbot’s, 4809 Forest Dr. | Free | Attendees are invited to bring plants they want to share + swap them for something desired.
- Art Along the Trail | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Riverfront Park, 321 Laurel St. | Free
Sunday, October 6
Show
- Divas on Main | 1-3 p.m. + 5-7 p.m. | 1626 Main St. | $10 or $15 at the door
Monday, October 7 - Sunday, October 13
Monday, October 7
TryThis
- Legacy Writing | 1-1:50 p.m. | The Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle | $30 or $10-20 for members | The class will continue on Mondays and Wednesdays through Oct. 16.
Tuesday, October 8
Wednesday, October 9
TryThis
- 150th South Carolina State Fair | 12-10 p.m. | S.C. State Fairgrounds | $7+
- Food Network Viewing Party | 8:30-10 p.m. | The Twist, 9300 Two Notch Rd. | Free | The owner of Twist, Ken Walker, will be on Guy’s Grocery Games, and the restaurant is hosting a viewing party with free apps
Thursday, October 10
Show
- Song Bird Cafe | 6:30 p.m. | Pastides Alumni Center, | $100 | This event raises funds for Sistercare, and features Grammy Award winners like Kristian Bush, Wyatt Durrette + more.
- Filmore | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free
Friday, October 11
ForKids
- Overnight in Oz | 5 p.m. | S.C. State Museum | $35 or $28 for members | Sleep in the museum’s Oz exhibit, go on a ghost tour of the museum + enjoy special planetarium screenings.
AllWeekend
- Oktoberfest Columbia | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Incarnation Lutheran, 3005 Devine St. | Free to attend
Festival
- Lexington County Professional Firefighters’ Fall Fest | 6:30-10 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 W Main St., Lexington | Free
Show
- Harlem 100 | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St. | $25-50
Cause
- Mayor’s Isabel Law Breakfast | 6-9 a.m. | Boyd Plaza, 1515 Main St. | $10 | Mayor Steve Benjamin will be hosting a breakfast to raise funds + awareness for breast cancer.
Saturday, October 12
Show
- Visiones y Música | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $16-50
Cause
- 2019 Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, 5K + 10K | 7 a.m.-1 p.m. | Prisma Health, 1600 Marion St. | $35-$75
- Fire Prevention Parade | 11 a.m. | David and Gabriel St. | Free | There will be a block party at the end of the parade route with food, games + more.
Sunday, October 13
Watercooler
- Gamecock W Soccer vs. Vanderbilt | 2:30 p.m. | Stone Stadium, 1313 Heyward St. | $5 or $3 for youths
- Full Moon Bike Ride | 8-9:30 p.m. | Aloft Columbia, 823 Lady St. | Free
TryThis
- Self-Care Sunday | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Enjoy mindful movement and yoga sessions every half hour + an open air market with food + beverages available.
Monday, October 14 - Sunday, October 20
Monday, October 14
Tuesday, October 15
- 28th Annual Anita Hill Celebration | 5:30-8 p.m. | Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St. | Free
Wednesday, October 16
Arts
- Getting to Know Van Gogh with Steven Naifeh | 6-8 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $10-15 or Free for children under 6
Film
- The High Life | 7-9 p.m. | The Nickelodeon Theatre | $11
TryThis
- Shag on Main | 8-11 p.m. | The Joint, 1710 Main St. | Free
Talk
- When Justice Prevails Lecture | 6-8 p.m. | USC School of Law | Free
Thursday, October 17
Show
- Fantasia w/Robin Thicke, Tank, & The Bonfyre | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. | $54-$114
- Tim Montana | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free
TryThis
- Barktoberfest | 4-7 p.m. | Bottles Beverage, 4410 Fort Jackson Blvd. | Free to attend | Join in at Bottles Beverage for beer tasting, pet adoption + a supply drive benefiting PETSinc.
Cause
- Chili for Charity | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Blair Cato Pickren Casterline, LLC, 700 Huger St. | $15 at the door
Friday, October 18
Watercooler
- Gamecock W Soccer vs. Tennessee | 7 p.m. | Stone Stadium, 1313 Heyward St. | $5 or $3 for youths
Show
- Parker’s Back Swing Dance Night | 8-11 p.m. | 1626 Main St. | Free to attend
- Bruch Chamber Orchestra | 7:30 PM | Darla Moore School of Business | Free
Saturday, October 19
Show
- Cola Town Bike Collective Fall Concert | 6-9 p.m. | Cola Town Bike Collective, 711 Elmwood Ave. | $10
- Pipe Organ Discovery Day | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1512 Blanding St. | Free
- Vampyr! The Opera | 7:30 p.m. | Irmo High School, 6671 St. Andrews Rd. | $10
Active
- Football Saturday Yoga | 10:00am | Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr. | Free | Join The Rooted Community on Rosewood Market’s patio.
Community
- Fall Blast | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Woodley’s Garden Center, 2840 Dreher Shoals Rd. | Free to attend | Events include a seminar on Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden, a raffle drawing, scavenger hunt + food.
Sunday, October 20
Dish
- Shuck n’ Shag featuring The Root Doctors | 5:30-9 p.m. | Seibels House + Gardens, 1601 Richland St. | $35
TryThis
- Richland County Sheriff’s Foundation Semi-Annual Car/Truck Show | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Carolina Ale House, 277 Columbiana Dr. | Free
Monday, October 21 - Sunday, October 27
Monday, October 21
Show
- Campfire Stories Improv Show | 7 p.m. | Richland Library, Main | Free
Tuesday, October 22
Cause
- 2019 Women’s Night Out | 5-9 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | 1101 Lincoln St. | $40
Festival
- Lexington Police Department Fall Festival | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Lexington Police Department, 111 Maiden Ln. | $5 or Free for children under 5
Community
- Let’s Talk Race | 6:30-8 p.m. | Richland Library, Main | Free | Addressing the topic of racism, these conversations hope to encourage local residents to take part in this difficult and sometimes emotional dialogue.
Show
- S.C. Philharmonic Untuxed | 6-7:30 p.m. | Lula Drake, 1635 Main St. | $25
Wednesday, October 23
Show
- Alison Krauss | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. | $47.50-123
TryThis
- Holiday Cooking Class | 6-8 p.m. | Good Life Cafe, 1614 Main St. | $10
Civic
- Transportation and Community Planning Presentation | 5:30-7 p.m. | County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton St. | Free | The NIP team and guest speakers will give information on the COMET bus system and other County community planning projects and initiatives.
Thursday, October 24
Watercooler
- Gamecock W Soccer vs. Ole Miss | 7 p.m. | Stone Stadium, 1313 Heyward St. | $5 or $3 for youths
Cause
- World Polio Day Outing | Segra Park | Free | There will be beer tastings by Columbia Craft and River Rat, ballpark food + carnival games with prizes.
TryThis
- Diwali Kick-off Party | 6-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free
- English Custom of Tea Presentation | 2 p.m. | Still Hopes Retirement Center, 1 Still Hopes Dr. “ $35
Dish
- Gala with a Bite | 7-11 p.m. | 701 Whaley St. | $100 per ticket or $180 for two | The evening includes live entertainment, heavy-hors-d’oeuvres and silent/live auction. Costume encouraged.
- Oyster Roast + Low Country Boil | 6-9 p.m. | The Grand on Main, 1621 Main St. | $50
Show
- 76 and Sunny | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free
Civic
- Community Planning and Development Expo | 5:30-7 p.m. | County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton St. | Free | The NIP team will discuss the program and various divisions of the Community Planning and Development Department.
Friday, October 25
Celebrate
- A Free Times Halloween | 7:30-11 p.m. | 1208 Washington St. | $35
- Bluetile’s 18th Anniversary Halloween Party | 7-11 p.m. | Bluetile Skateshop, 621 Harden St. | $5 at the door
ForKids
- Trunk or Treat | 5:30-7 p.m. | Providence Presbyterian Church, 1112 Hummingbird Dr. | Free
Show
- J. Anthony Brown and Friends | 8 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. | $35-75
- Villa*Nova Halloween Bash | 7 p.m. | The Senate, 1002 Senate St. | $12
Civic
- All Politics are Local: What’s Important to Women in Government and Business | 3:45 p.m. | Pastides Alumni Center, 900 Senate St. | Free | Mayor Steve Benjamin, Verizon + more will be hosting a panel discussion on civic engagement, diversity and inclusion in the workplace + how to engage and empower the next generation of women leaders.
Saturday, October 26
TryThis
- Paint Night | 8-10 p.m. | 1626 Main St. | Free to attend
- Fall Flea Market Flip Sale | 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Ivy House, 10511 Two Notch Rd. | Free
- Urban Sketchers October | 12 p.m.-2 p.m. | Jam Room Music Festival, Main + Hampton St. | Free
- Five Points Chili Cook-Off | 7 a.m.-6 p.m. | 2107 Greene St. | $25-$130 to enter the contest, $1 donations for chili samples
Festival
- 2019 SC Korean Festival | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | 1412 Richland St. | Free to attend
- Spooktacular Fall Festival | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Treasure Island Marketplace, 2702 Emmanuel Church Rd. | Free to attend
- Jam Room Music Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Intersection of Main + Hampton St. | Free
Dish
- Cousins Maine at Cottontown Brew Lab | 5-9 p.m. | Cottontown Brew Lab, 1223 Franklin St. | Free to attend
- Biscuits and Bluegrass Brunch | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Hunter-Gatherer at the Hangar, | $35 or Free for children 12 + under
Show
- Sam Pacetti | 6:30 p.m. | TOL Coffeehouse, 6719 N Trenholm Dr. | $18
Sale
- Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Richland Library Operations Center, 130 Lancewood Rd. | Free
Active
- Bikes and Beers | 9 a.m. | Doko Meadows Park, 100 Alvina Hagood Cir. | $50-60 | Start with a 15-30 mile bike ride + end with free beer tastings, live music + food trucks.
Civic
- Memorial for Colonel Jack Van Loan | 1:45 p.m. | Five Points Centennial Plaza, 555 Santee Ave. | Free
Sunday, October 27
Show
- EarleJam Concert | 11 a.m. | Earlewood Park, 1113 Recreation Dr. | Free | In addition to the concert, there will be food trucks, local breweries + a disc golf tournament.
Monday, October 28 - Thursday, October 31
Monday, October 28
Tuesday, October 29
ForKids
- Historic Columbia Trunk or Treat | 5:30-7 p.m. | Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding St. | Free
- Godwin Motors Trunk of Treat | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Godwin Motors, 4032 W Beltline Blvd. | Free
Cause
- Light the Night | 5:30 p.m. | S.C. State House | Free | This one-mile walk raises funds + awareness for leukemia.
Film
- Hocus Pocus | 5:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 1300 College St. | $10-15
Wednesday, October 30
Arts
- Quilted Impressions | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton St. | Free | The exhibit will be on through Nov. 16.
Thursday, October 31
Celebrate
- Halloween Hoopla | 4-8 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum | $5 + Free for children
- Spooktacular Halloween Party | 5:30-9 p.m. | Dutch Square Mall, 421 Bush River Rd. | Free
